If you are on the fence about using cannabis as medicine, it might help you to have all the facts. The number one thing people want to know is whether or not cannabis is a safe alternative. It’s also hard to ignore the stigma that surrounds marijuana. Using a drug that is often unfairly classified as dangerous may seem like too big of a risk. The good news is, you don’t have anything to be worried about. Here are all of the facts to help ease your mind.

The Chemistry of Cannabis

The one major thing that sets marijuana apart from other widely known medications is the chemistry. But, it is even more than that. People prefer cannabis as medicine alternative because unlike other medications, cannabis is natural. It may surprise you to know that there are almost 500 compounds in marijuana making each strain unique. These special compounds are called cannabinoids. These cannabinoids make up most of the physical mass of marijuana and are helping experts understand this magical plant more.

These cannabinoids not only provide structure, they are the main reason why cannabis has an effect on the body. This has everything to do with the structured system inside your body. This system is called the endocannabinoid system. This system releases chemicals in order to fight off infection in the body. The cannabinoids in marijuana attach themselves to the endocannabinoid system. The scientific proof between cannabis as medicine and the effect on your body is irrefutable.

How Does Cannabis Work as Medicine?

Understanding how cannabis as medicine works is an important part of knowing whether or not it’s right for you. Cannabis has a direct link to the specific receptors in your brain. The main receptor that qualifies cannabis as medicine is in the central nervous system. The central nervous system is where all of the signals gather. This is how people are able to feel pain and recognize that something is wrong. Finding a medicine that directly correlates these signals is a total game changer.

When you smoke marijuana, cannabis fills your lungs causing them to expand. The cannabinoids go through your lungs and then are sent right to your heart. This is also why many people feel a sudden rise in their heart rate while smoking cannabis. After the chemical compound reaches your heart it directly syncs up to your brain. This is where the central nervous system lives. Once in your brain, the cannabinoids latch onto the pain receptors.

While the main reason why people prefer marijuana is that it is safer, there is another important thing to note. Cannabis only takes around 3 minutes to completely process through your body. This is only a fraction of the time of other modern medicines. But, it isn’t only blocking pain that makes cannabis a great alternative to painkillers and other medicine. Cannabis has been shown to help improve the function of the immune system. This is why you see more and more doctors recommended marijuana therapy to cancer and immune disorder patients.

What Can Cannabis Treat?

The list of things that cannabis can treat grows more with each new discovery. The way things are going, there doesn’t seem to be an end to the research. Sometimes, it isn’t always about the disease but the symptoms. People often say that the symptoms are worse than the disease itself. So, while studies have shown that marijuana can be a cure, it is equally as important to treat symptoms.

When marijuana was first being approached as an acceptable treatment plan, it was for certain cancers. Cancer is what comes to mind when most people think about cannabis as medicine. Cannabis has been shown to shrink cancer cells as well as treat the symptoms of not only cancer but chemotherapy. Here are some of the things that cannabis has been known to help with:

Nausea

Lack of appetite

Body pain

Shrink cancer cells

Relaxes muscles

But, it isn’t only cancer that cannabis has been known to help with. Marijuana has been making huge strides when it comes to the treatment of other problems that involve the CNS. MS patients have been seeing some positive results by using cannabis as medicine. This is especially evident when it comes to muscle spasms. Cannabis has also been shown to help treat seizure disorders and digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease.

Evolution of Cannabis as Medicine

Cannabis is not only meant for the physical either. Recent studies have shown that cannabis works wonders on emotional and mental pain as well. Marijuana has been used to effectively treat certain mental illnesses like anxiety and insomnia. There are even studies that show that cannabis can be an effective treatment for depression. This all depends on the strain that is used, however.
Sativa cannabis strains are great for treating social disorders like anxiety. Sativa is often known as the social drug. It helps people to be able to handle day to day tasks that otherwise would seem impossible. Sativa strains are also good for treating chronic pain while also letting you maintain your lifestyle.

Indica cannabis strains are much better for nighttime disorders. This type of marijuana is used to treat insomnia and depression. This is because Indica gives you a relaxing high while allowing you to sleep soundly. One thing is clear, no matter the strain, cannabis is not just meant for the physical anymore.

Final Thoughts

It is time to remove the stigma from marijuana and see it for what it really is. Cannabis as medicine is not only scientifically proven but highly recommended. It is rare to have a product that has such strong scientific evidence that proves it to be effective. The magic happens when the cannabinoids directly link to the receptors in your brain. When it comes to cannabis, it is all in the chemistry. Hopefully, soon the skeptics will no longer be able to deny how important cannabis is to modern medicine.

What Qualifies Cannabis as Medicine? was last modified: September 19th, 2017 by Paul Dillan